Puppy Training near Johnshaven, Montrose & Stonehaven

Are you thinking about getting a puppy, and want honest, reputable advice before you commit?

Are you preparing for a new puppy or recently brought your new addition home and wondering how to get things right from the start?

Are you a few months in with your puppy and finding that biting, pulling, over-excitement, or lack of focus are starting to feel overwhelming?

Wherever you are on the puppy journey, you’re in the right place.

Getting a puppy is exciting — but it can also be confusing and exhausting. Advice comes from everywhere, often with conflicting messages. One minute you’re told socialisation is everything. The next, you’re worrying about loose lead walking, recall, calm behaviour, confidence, and whether you’re already getting things wrong.

My approach to puppy training is designed to support you from the very beginning — and just as importantly, through the stage where many owners start to struggle.

Before you get your puppy

If you’re still deciding whether a puppy is right for you, or you’re preparing for one to arrive, this is one of the most valuable times to get support.

I offer relaxed pre-puppy advice sessions where you can come along for a one-hour coffee and chat. We’ll talk honestly about what life with a puppy really looks like, what to expect in the early weeks and months, and how to set things up for calm from day one.

These sessions are ideal if you want to:

• Make sure a puppy fits your lifestyle • Get help choosing a breed or puppy that suits you • Prepare your home, routine, and expectations • Avoid common problems before they start

Many owners tell me this conversation alone saved them months of stress later on.

The early puppy weeks

When your puppy first comes home, everything is new — for both of you. This stage isn’t about perfect behaviour or obedience. It’s about helping your puppy feel safe, settled, and able to learn.

Rather than rushing into busy environments or focusing on commands, I help owners build early foundations through calm, age-appropriate games that encourage focus, confidence, and connection.

At this stage, you might choose to:

Book a Snuffle Spot session to meet me, enjoy an informal chat, and let your puppy explore and build confidence while we talk things through.

Book a block of 4x 1-to-1 puppy training sessions, fully personalised to you and your puppy’s needs, to start building focus, calm behaviour, and good habits from the very beginning.

Join Games Club, where you’ll learn fun, practical games that teach your puppy to focus on you and stay calm around other dogs.

Puppies can attend sessions as soon as your vet confirms it’s appropriate for them to be in spaces with other dogs. From there, we build skills gradually and thoughtfully, without overwhelming them.

A few months in… when things feel harder

This is the stage many owners don’t expect.

Your puppy is bigger, bolder, and more confident — but suddenly they’re biting again, pulling on the lead, ignoring recall, or finding it hard to settle. Walks feel chaotic, social situations feel stressful, and you might be wondering what you’ve missed.

This is incredibly common — and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

At this stage, the focus shifts to helping your puppy learn how to cope with distractions, regulate their emotions, and choose to stay connected to you in the real world.

At this point, you might choose to:

Book a block of 4x 1-to-1 training sessions for targeted, personalised support to work through the specific challenges you’re facing, such as lead pulling, recall, over-excitement, or difficulty settling.

Join Games Club, where structured games help your puppy practise focusing on you and remaining calm around other dogs and real-life distractions.

Book a Snuffle Spot session if things feel a bit much — for both of you. These calm, enrichment-based sessions help your puppy decompress while giving you space to talk things through and reset.

What socialisation really means

Socialisation doesn’t mean meeting everyone and everything.

True socialisation is about helping your puppy feel calm and neutral around the world — able to notice things without needing to rush over, react, or engage. Puppies who learn to focus on their owner and stay emotionally settled cope far better long-term than those pushed into too much interaction too soon.

This is why my training prioritises focus, neutrality, and emotional regulation over forced interaction.

The CALM framework

All of my puppy training is guided by my CALM framework:

Compose the body — helping your puppy feel settled and comfortable

Activate the brain — using fun games that teach focus and thinking

Lower stress (for humans and dogs) — recognising when things are too much and adjusting

Make a connection — building a relationship your puppy wants to be part of

When these foundations are in place, the big goals follow naturally: loose lead walking, reliable recall, and calm behaviour.

Ways to train with me

Every puppy — and every owner — is different. You can choose the level of support that suits you best.

Pre-Puppy Session

If you’re still thinking about getting a puppy, or you’re preparing for one to arrive, this is one of the most valuable times to get support.

I offer Before You Get Your Puppy sessions — relaxed, one-hour coffee and chat appointments designed to give you honest, reputable advice before you make the commitment or bring your puppy home.

These sessions are for people who want to feel confident and informed, rather than overwhelmed by conflicting advice.

We can talk through things like:

• Whether now is the right time for a puppy

• Choosing a breed or puppy that fits your lifestyle

• What the early weeks and months really look like

• How to set things up for calm from day one

• Common puppy problems — and how to avoid them

These sessions take place at Damside House, Johnshaven, Montrose (DD10 0HY) and cost £40 for 1 hour

Many owners say this conversation alone saves them months of stress later on.

1-to-1 Puppy Training

1-to-1 sessions take place at Damside House, Johnshaven, Montrose (DD10 0HY). We start in my calm indoor training barn, complete with a log burner for colder months, before gradually building skills outside across 8 acres of private woodland.

Each session is tailored to you. We’ll talk through the challenges you’re facing and work on practical solutions you can use every day.

1-to-1 sessions are booked in blocks of four and are ideal for puppies who need individual support or owners who prefer private training. Sessions cost £180 for 4x 45 minute classes.

Snuffle Spot

Snuffle Spot is a calm, enrichment-based session where your puppy can explore, sniff, and build confidence while you enjoy a coffee with me.

These one-off sessions are perfect if you want relaxed support, have questions about things like biting or toilet training, or would like a gentle introduction before joining other training.

One puppy / family group per session. Multiple sessions can be booked if helpful.

Games Club (dogs of all ages)

Puppy Games Club is a small group session for dogs of all ages. In real life, dogs are exposed to others of different ages and temperaments — and this class reflects that reality.

Each month focuses on four structured games that are developed over time, helping dogs learn to focus on their owner, ignore distractions, and remain calm around other dogs.

Games Club is held at the Canine Country Club, Mill of Uras, Stonehaven, in a large indoor space. There are up to six dogs per session, with plenty of room for everyone.

New enrolment opens in the last week of every month via the waiting list.

Laura specialises in customising activities for dogs with restricted exercise and supporting owners through this challenge. Her mission is to ensure these dogs remain calm and content despite limited daily exercise, fostering enduring bonds between them and their owners through compassionate training methods.